December 2009
TRAGEDY YET TRIUMPH
The week after we sent out our last letter there was a major tragedy at one of my schools. Two students were headed to school, but lost control and hit a tree. The driver survived but the 14 year old passenger (Alicia Owens) died shortly after arriving at the hospital. The driver was 17 and was driving without a license. The entire school was in shock. The principal asked me if I would help them counsel with the students, and teach a lesson on grief. After teaching that next day, several of the students and the teachers expressed their appreciation for the lesson. That weekend my wife and I attended the funeral on our way out of town to the national conference. The joy of the whole situation is that just a week before this Alicia, the girl that died, had accepted Christ as her Savior and was talking to her youth pastor about being baptized that next Sunday. I do ask that you would pray for the students and teachers at this school as they go through this time of sorrow.
CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS
Lately every time I teach a lesson in the schools it turns into a Bible lesson. The young people know that I am a preacher, so any questions they have they simply ask. Many of our discussions have been about how the world began. One of the more interesting questions I have received is: Where did Satan come from? As you could guess, this leads to a very exciting classroom discussion! Through this particular question and answer session, we were able to discuss the topics of God, Satan, Heaven, Hell, and Sin! After the class was over, I had many of the students express how much they enjoyed the lesson. The funny thing is there was no lesson, just a lot of Bible answers for a load of Bible questions. This is the purpose for which we work in America’s public schools!
REACHING PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET
The Lord truly has blessed the three websites we have produced for the public school ministry. Already hundreds of students have gone, and continue to go, to “www.thetaterpatch.com“. This interactive website not only contains fun, but also many different avenues by which children of all ages can learn their Bible! Here’s what a few students had to say about this site: “hi! your web page is really awesome,… it’s so much funnnnn!!”, “Hey I love this website…”, “this is the best ministry ever, keep up the excellent work!”. I thank the Lord for the ability to help build websites like this one for Rock of Ages! Please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom and knowledge, as I begin to build and maintain websites for this ministry, in addition to the work I do in the schools! From the depths of our hearts, my family and I thank you for your prayers and faithful support.
